Hunter Strickland began serving a six-game suspension Monday for brawling with Bryce Harper on May 29 after his appeal was denied by Major League Baseball.

Strickland plunked Harper on the right hip with a 98 mph fastball, igniting an eighth-inning fight between the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals.

Harper was suspended for four games, which was reduced to three games after his appeal. He has already served the penalty.

John McHale Jr., a special assistant to baseball Rob Manfred, denied Strickland's appeal, which means the pitcher will miss all four games of a series set to begin Monday in Atlanta against the Atlanta Braves, as well as the first two games of a weekend series in San Francisco against the New York Mets.